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NCGA National Corn Yield Contest is Underway
May
8, 2002
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Gary Bradley, NCGA, 636-733-9004, ext. 139
Paul Bertels, NCGA, 636-733-9004, ext. 131
ST. LOUIS (May 8, 2002) -- The 2002 National Corn Growers Association
(NCGA) National Corn Yield Contest is underway, with the initial deadline
for entries set for June 15, 2002. For the last four consecutive years,
the CYC has been the playground of Manchester, Iowa, corn grower Francis
Childs, who won last year with a record-breaking yield of 408.2 bushels
per acre.
Paul Bertels, NCGA's
director of production and marketing, said the contest's goal is to
highlight the production potential of corn. "Contest participants improve
their operations by getting a unique opportunity to compare their own
proven corn production capabilities with farmers in their states and
across the country," he said. "This contest also demonstrates improvements
in production methods while addressing environmental concerns."
Last year, more
than 3,200 growers from 45 states entered the contest. The resulting
top yields from farmers who placed first, second and third places in
the respective categories ranged from 408.2 to 224.8 bushels per acre.
Once again, NCGA
has incorporated additional questions into the entry form regarding
entrants' non-contest corn production. Bertels noted, "This limited
information will allow NCGA to demonstrate that its contest entrants
are not only outstanding farmers, but are committed stewards to the
land."
NCGA President Tim
Hume has said, using another sports example, the Corn Yield Contest
is similar to setting the land speed record with a car. "Only a few
people can actually do it, but the rest of us are interested in the
potential an automobile has," said Hume, a corn grower from Walsh, Colo.
Winners of this
year's NCYC will be announced Dec. 15 and honored at the 2003 Commodity
Classic, the combined convention and trade show of the NCGA and the
American Soybean Association (ASA), Feb. 27-March 1 in Charlotte, N.C.
Along with national recognition, winners may receive prizes from participating
seed and crop protection companies.
Deadlines for entries
and fees are June 15, $50; July 1, $60; and Aug. 1, $80. Entry forms
are located on the NCGA
website. More information is available by calling NCGA at 636-733-9004.
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The National Corn
Growers Association mission is to create and increase opportunities
for corn growers in a changing world and to enhance corn's profitability
and usage. NCGA represents more than 32,000 members, 25 affiliated state
corn grower organizations and hundreds of thousands of growers who contribute
to state checkoff programs.
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